PRETTY WOMAN THE MUSICAL is the stage musical adaptation of the classic Touchstone Pictures movie written by J.F.Lawton. The book for the musical is by Garry Marshall and J.F.Lawton with the music and lyrics by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance.
The original production was directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell. This current stage adaptation is directed and the recreation of the choreography by Rusty Mowery.
The cast moved around David Rockwell’s very functional, adaptable set with much of the set parts coming down and later being lifted up to the rafters.
Tom Rogers dressed the cast in stunning costumes, Kenneth Posner and Phiiip S Rosenberg bathed the cast in exquisite lighting, and John Shivers and Greg Pink’s sound desigh was crystal clear.
The principal cast were all great. Samantha Jade is great in the Julia Roberts role, Vivian Ward, playing the lady of the night with of plenty of cute charm and persazz. Ben Hall was also great in the Richard Gere role playing the super smooth elite businessman, Edward Lewis.
Nigerian born Australian actor Tim Omaji was all funk as Happy Man and Mr Thompson, and the audience adored him.
Michelle Brasier played Vivian’s sassy, brash, more senior lady of the night. My personal favourite performance of the night. I was always looking for her next appearance on stage.
An ensemble cast of nineteen provided excellent support with some giving very fine comic performances.
The poppy soundtrack, comprising eleven songs before interval and eight songs post, held up all, making the musical adaptation resonate. There was only one time that I cringed inside when the4 narrative switched clunky from dialogue to song.
An fine orchestra was led by Music Director David Skelton.
The touch/flourish that I loved in the show was the incorporation of opera sequences in the show, as the love between Vivian and Edward fluctuates. Not only were the voices of the two singers awesome but it also made a lot of sense, the narrative drive in the big musicals generally have an operatic feel, though I think that it it is fair to say that La Traviata or any of the great operas are in any danger at all of being surpassed.
Vivian Ward finds her prince, and we get a great show. Catch this classic contemporary fairy tale currently playing at the Theatre Royal Sydney.
